Democratic Labour Party Senator John Madigan has quit his party citing internal warfare, but says he will continue out the remainder of his term as an independent Senator.

The feud centres around a staffer who he accused of seeking Liberal party preselection in Victoria, a fortnight after joining his office earlier this year.

Senator John Madigan arrives for a media conference on his decision to quit the Democratic Labour Party Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Senator Madigan sought leave to make a five-minute statement after prayers in the Senate on Thursday morning.

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He told the Senate he remains committed to the DLP's principles but the "cancer of political intrigue" had infected the Victorian state executive of his party.

"It has become apparent to me that the DLP's own worst enemies are within its own ranks," Senator Madigan told Parliament.

He said he had witnessed "first-hand" attempts from the beginning of his election in 2010, by "those in the party" to assume power at "any means" even if it meant the "destruction" of the party itself.

He said the "attack" had moved into his office earlier this year, via an office manager his party officials had urged him to employ.

"It's now become apparent that that person systemically ran a campaign of disinformation and disharmony in my office," Senator Madigan said.

He claimed his attempts to communicate with members of the DLP had been "thwarted", confidential information was leaked and "lies were told".

Senator Madigan said he had been a member of the DLP since 2006 and had arrived at his decision after "deep introspection", and made his announcement with a "heavy heart".

"I remain committed to DLP values," said Senator Madigan who cited manufacturing, jobs, farming and the "sanctity of human life - from conception to natural death and at every stage in between" as his key values.